Physiotherapeutic device



Jan. 27, 1953 D. K, M MENNAMY 2,626,600

PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1951 2 mus-mm 1 IN V EN TOR.

DALE M-Mawmwz MOWm/fimm Aka/2 2.092

ATTOE/VE 45.

Jan. 27, 1953 D. K. M MENNAMY 2,626,60

PHYS I OTHERAPEUTIC' DEVI CE Filed Feb. 2, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 2 Q 4' INVENTOR.

Lgz DALE A. M flk'AM/AM Patented Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC DEVICE Dale K. McMennamy, Van Nuys, Calif.

Application February 2, 1951, Serial No. 209,134

. 1 r v Thisinvention relates to a body and limb developer, and more particularly to a physiotherapeutic device for aiding paralytics to regain the power of self-locomotion.

An object of this invention is to provide a physiotherapeutic device which is particularly adapted to aid the paralytic in regaining the requisite muscular coordination and balance for normal locomotion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a therapeutic device which is particularly adapted to impart a Walking-like motion to the legs of a paralytic to thereby aid the stricken paralytic in regaining the requisite muscular coordination for self-locomotion.

A further object of this invention is to provide a therapeutic device which is particularly adapted for use by paralytic children in regarding the power of self-locomotion, the device serving as a mobile vehicle during the period of physiotherapy.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a therapeutic device which can be readily adjusted to receive paralytic children in a relatively wide age group for the re-education of certain muscles.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a therapeutic device which can be selectively adjusted over the period of physiotherapy for supporting the paralytic in various attitudes from a seated position to a standing position, to thereby aid the paralytic in regaining the requisite balance for normal self-locomotion.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a physiotherapeutic device for paralytics which is relatively simple in structure and cheap to manufacture.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the therapeutic device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the therapeutic device of the present invention, taken from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the therapeutic device of the present invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, perspective View of a two-throw crankshaft employed th 1- 9 Claims. (Cl. 128--25) lustrated embodiment of the physiotherapeutic device of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure-3, with parts broken away and shown in section; V

Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional View taken along the line l-| of Figure 3; and Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 1, with parts broken away and shown in section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, there is shown the therapeutic device of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral II), which includes a mobile base adapted to be supported above a supporting surface l2. Rotatably journaled contiguous to the forward end of the base II is an upstanding steering post 3 which carries a steering column M, the steering column being secured to the upper end of the steering post l3 by means of the spaced bolts l5, l6.

Underlying the forward end of the base II is a front wheel assembly I! which is secure to the lower end of the steering post l3, the front wheel assembly embodying a horizontally disposed axle l8 having the wheels I9, 20 rotatably journaled contiguous to the free ends thereof.

Positioned contiguous to the rear end of the base II is a two-throw crankshaft 2| having a pair of double cranks thereon, which is mounted on the base II for rotary movement about a horizontally disposed, transversely extending axis. Disposed contiguous to and spaced outwardly of the sides of the base II are the rear wheels 22, 23 which are fixedly secured to the ends of the two-throw crankshaft 2|. The front wheel assembly including the wheels Hi, 20 and the rear wheels 22, 23 cooperate to support the base II for movement along the supporting surface I 2. Upon movement of the base along the supporting surface, the rear wheels 22, 23 drive the crankshaft 2|. Arranged in spaced, parallel relation with respect to the crankshaft 2| is a two-throw crankshaft 24 which is mounted contiguous to the forward end of the base for rotary movement about a second horizontally disposed, transverse- 1y extending axis. v

Extending longitudinally of the base H is a pedal 26 which is disposed between the crankshafts 2|, 24 and has one end rotatably supported on the throw or double crank 28 of the crankshaft 2| and has the other end rotatably supported on the opposed throw or double crank 29 of the crankshaft 24. Disposed in spaced, parallel relation with respect to the pedal 26 is a second pedal 21 which has one end rotatably journaled on the throw 33 of th crankshaft 2i and has the other end rotatablv journaled on the opposed throw 38 of the crankshaft 24. Accordingly, upon imparting a rotary movement to the crankshaft 2!, the assembly of the crankshafts and the pedals 2 6, 2! will be actuated to impart a walking-like motion to the legs of a paralytic when the legs are secured to the pedals.

Secured. to the mobile base I I is a frame 32 which includes the s aced, inverted, upstanding,

U-shaped frame members 33, 34 which are ,sei thesupport 35 in a select posit on of its move- ,ment toward and away from the base Ii, t e support being slidably mounted on the frame 32. "The support ,further includes spaced, upstanding side plates 39, 4fl, the side plate 39 be ng secured to the adjacent legofthe U-shaned bracket 35 and'slidably supported on the adjacent leg of the frame section 33 of the'frame The side plate 40 is similarly secured to-the adjacent leg of the horizontally disposed, U-shaped bracket '38 and is slidably supported on the adjacent leg of the frame section 34 of the upstanding frame 32. Disposed between the side plates 39, 48 is a seat section 4| which is pivotally mounted contiguous to one end by means of the bolts 42 for movement from the horizontal position to various inclined positions with respect to the horizontal. Arranged contiguous to the upper end of the seat section M is a back section 43 which has one end pivotally connectedto the other end of the seat section-4| by means of the hinge 44.

Connected between the back section 43 and the adjacent side plate are connecting links 45 which mount-the back section 43 for movement from a vertical position to various inclined positions with respect to the vertical in response to the movement of the'seat section M from the horizontal position to various inclined positions with respect to the horizontal. Accordingly, the support 35 can be selectively adjusted over the period of physiotherapy {or supporting the paralytic in various attitudes from the seated position illustrated-by-the full lines'in Figure 6 to the standing position illustrated by the broken lines in Figure 6,to thereby aid the paralytic in regaining the requisite balance for normal self-locomotion.

Suitable means are carried by the seat section and engage the side plates 39, 40 for detachably securing the seat in a select position of its movement. The means for securing the seat section in select positions of its movement includes the "barrels-46, 41 carried on the under surface of the seat section 4I, thebarrels supportin the springbiased plungers 48, 49 which are selectively engageable in apertures 55 provided on the side plates 39, '40. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the

apertures 50 are disposed along the circumferential arc of a circle having the pivot 42 as a Center.

Resting upon the pedals 26, 21 are the foot shown in Figure 6, a collar ported on the steering column I4, the collar being .4 rests 52, 53 which are adapted to secure the feet of a paralytic to the adjacent one of the pedals. Suitable means are operatively connected to each of the foot rests and the adjacent one of the pedals for holding the foot rests at a select position along the adjacent one of the pedals and at a select inclination with respect to the latter. Since the mounting structure for each of the foot rests 52, 53 is-the same, it willsufiicetodescribe only one in detail. In Figure 7, there is shown the foot rest 53 which is supported on the pedal 2 by means of the spaced, U-shaped brackets 54, 55. Extending through the bottom 55 of the foot rest 53 is a set screw 51 which extends through the bight of the bracket 55 and engages the pedal 21. Extending between the legs of the bracketxZfi. :is a pin E38 which is adapted to underlie and bear against the pedal 2?. Upon movement of the threaded set screw 57 into engagement with the pedal 2?, the adjacent end of the foot rest 53can be fixedly positioned with respect to the pedalZl'. A second set screw 59 extends through the floor -55 of the foot rest 53 and through the bight of the bracket 54 and engages the pedal 21. The legs of the bracket 54 are provided with opposed pairs of spaced apertures 60 for selectively supporting a pin 6| at select positions along the legs of-the bracket 54. Upon-urging the free end of the setscrew into engagementwith the pedal 21, the front end o'f'the foot rest 53 can be elevated above the pedal 27 to a height predetermined by the supported 1 position of the pin BI. When the-pin 61 engages'the'under surface of the-pedal 2'I', the maximum elevation of the foot rest has been attained until the pin is supported in a different pair of the spaced apertures 60. Each of the foot rests 52,

53 is provided with a cup 63 engageable over the toe of the shoe of the adjacent foot of the paralytic, which, in cooperation with straps, not shown, effect thesecurement of the adjacentfoot to the adjacent foot rest.

Q5 the items .32.. Di osed wit n the r spective hous s 5.8 are pring 59 whic are c rcumposed about the respective plungers 55 and normally bias the latter to the position illustrated n Fi ure .4. Upon app yi an out a dly irected force to each plunger 55, the end thereof norma ly d spo ed W thi g 6. an be dis ngaged therefrom to permit the support 35 to be adjusted with respect to foot rests 52 and53,

Spaced above the base II is a handle structure I0 which extends longitudinally of the base and is pivotally supported on the steering column I4 by means of the bolt 'II for swinging movement in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis. Suitable means are operatively connected between the handle structure II! and the steering column I4 for holding the handle structure 1!] in select positions of its rocking movement. As clearly I2 is slidably supsecured in select positions of its movement along the column H by means of the hand actuable set screw 13 which is supported in threaded engageiment with the collar and selectively engageable with the column l4. Interconnected between the collar or sleeve 12 is a linkage 13' which has one 1 end pivotally connected to the collar 12 and has the other end pivotally connected to the handle structure Hi.

The handle structure HI includes a base 15 which is pivotally secured to the steering column M by means of the bolt 1 I, the base including an abutment 16 spaced from the pivot H. Disposed longitudinally of the base 15 is a hand grip 11 which is mounted for extensile and retractile movement with respect to the base toward and away from the adjacent support 35. The hand grip 11 carries a stop element 18 provided with a set screw 19 engageable with the adjacent porupstanding frame structure 32 and supported on the support 35 in a position predetermined by the length of therapy and the paralytics capabilities. The legs of the paralytic are then secured to the foot rests 52 and 53 in the manner previously described and the device is moved along the supporting surface I2 by the paralytic actuating the pedals 26 and 21, or by an individual who can grasp the rearwardly disposed bight of the horizontally disposed bracket 35 to effect the movement of the mobile base ll.

Considering the operation of the parts of the device in greater detail, it is to be noted that the construction is such that each crank of a crankshaft is aligned, longitudinally of the base, with a crank of the other crankshaft (Figure 3). Further, since the two cranks of a crankshaft are oppositely disposed on said crankshaft, one pedal 26 will be moving rearwardly while the other pedal 2'! will be moving forwardly, in a motion particularly adapted to simulate closely the movements of the feet of a person when the person is walking. Further, it is to be noticed that the operation of the seat section ll is such that when said seat section is swung upwardly, more and more of the weight of the paralytic is placed upon the pedals, responsive to progressively in creased upward adjustments of the seat section. Thus, as the paralytic progresses durin continued and repeated treatments, he or she is enabled to gradually impose an ever-increasing weight on the feet and lower limbs. At the same time, the muscles used during normal walking are exercised. This is the operation of the basic parts of the structure, and this operation is aided by the adjustability of the seat section longitudinally of the legs 61 of the upstanding frame 32, the up and down adjustments of the handle structure, the tiltable adjustment of the foot rests detailed in Figure 7, and the hand grip mounted for extensile and retractile movement toward and away from the support 35.

Although only one embodiment of the therapeutic device of the present invention has been described, it is readily apparent that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set'forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A therapeutic device for paralytics comprising a mobile base, a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending two-throw crankshafts rotatably journaled in said base and actuable in response to the movement of said mobile base, a first pedal extending longitudinally of said base intermediate said pair of crankshafts and having one end connected to one throw of one of said crankshafts and having the other end connected to the opposite throw of the other of said crankshafts, a second pedal spaced from said first pedal and having one end connected to the other throw of said one shaft and having the other end connected to the other throw of said-other -shaft, a frame carried by said mobile base, a support adapted to engage the rear portions of a paralytic positioned within said frame and mounted therein for movement toward and away from said base, means carried by said support and engaging said frame for detachably securing said support in a select position of its movement with respect to said base.

2. A therapeutic device for paralytics com prising a mobile base, a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending two-throw crankshafts rotata'bly journaled in said base and actuable in response to the movement of said mobile base, a first pedal extending longitudinally of said base intermediate said pair of crankshafts and having one end connected to one throw of one of said crankshafts and having the other end connected to the opposite throw of the other of said crankshafts, a second pedal spaced from said first pedal and having one end connected to the other throw of said one shaft and having the other end connected to the other throw of said other shaft, a frame carried by said mobile base, a support carried by said frame adapted to engage the rear portions of a paralytic, and a foot rest carried by each of said pedals and adapted to be secured to the adjacent foot of the paralytic, said support including spaced upstanding side plates carried by said frame, a seat section mounted contiguous to one end on said side plates for pivotal movement from a horizontal position to various inclined positions with respect to the horizontal, a back section having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said section, and linkage means connected between said side plates and said back section for mounting the latter for V tatably journaled contiguous to one end of said base, a front wheel assembly underlying said one end of said base and secured to the lower end 0f saidsteering post, a first two-throw crankshaft positioned contiguous to the other end of said base and mounted on the latter for rotary movement about a first horizontally disposed transversely extending axis, a rear wheel secured to each end of said first crankshaft, said front wheel assembly and said rear wheels cooperating to support said base for movement along said supporting surface, a second double-throw crankshaft arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said first crankshaft and mounted contiguous .tosaid one end of said base for rotary movement about a second horizontally disposed transversely extending axis, a pedal operatively connected between each pair of opposed throws of said crankshafts, a frame carried by said mobile base, a support carried by said frame adapted to engage the rear portions of a paralytic,

a foot rest carried by each of said pedals and adapted to secure the feet of a paralytic to the adjacent one of said pedals, a handle structure spacedlabove and extending longitudinally of said base and pivotally supported on said steering post for swinging movement in a vertical plane, and means operatively connected between said .handlestructure .and said steering post for holding said handle structure in select positions of .its pivotal movement.

4. A therapeutic device for paralytics comprising a base adapted to be supported above a supporting surface, an upstanding steering post rotatably journaled contiguous to one end of said 7 base, a front wheel assembly underlying said one endof said base and secured to the lower end of said steering .post, a first two-throw crankshaft positioned contiguous to the other end of said base and mounted on the latter for rotary movevment about a first horizonally disposed transversely extending axis, a rear wheel secured to each end of said first crankshaft, said front wheel assembly and said rear wheels cooperating to support said base for movement along said supporting surface, a second double-throw crankshaft arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said first crankshaft and mounted contiguous to said. one end of said base for rotary movement about a second horizontally disposed transversely extending axis, a pedal operatively connected between each pair of opposed throws of said crankshafts, a frame carried by said mobile base, a support carried by said frame adapted to engage the rear portions of a paralytic, a foot rest carried by each of said pedals and adapted to secure the feet of the paralytic to the adjacent one of said pedals, a handle structure spaced above and extending longitudinally of said base and pivotally supported on said steering post for swinging movement in a vertical plane, and means operatively connected between said handle structure and said steering post for holding said handle structure in select positions of its pivotal movement, said handle structure including a hand grip mounted for extensile movement toto the opposite throw of the other of said crankshafts, a second pedal spaced from said first pedal and having one end connected to the other throw of said one shaft and having the other end connected to the other throw of said other shaft, a frame carried by said mobile base, a support carried by said frameadapted-to engage the rear portions of a paralytic, a foot rest carried by each of said pedalsand adapted to be secured to theadjacentfoot of the paralytic, and means operatively connected 'to each of said foot rests and the adjacent one of said pedals for holding each of said foot rests in a select position along the adjacent one of said pedals and at a select inclination with respect to said adjacent one of said pedals.

6. A therapeutic device'for ,paralytics comprisin a base, pairs Of front and rear wheels supporting said base for movement over a supporting surface, front and rear two-throw crankshafts journaled inand spaced longitudinally of said base, atleast one of said crankshafts being fixed to one of the pairs .of wheels to rotate jointly therewith, the respective throws of one crankshaft being aligned longitudinally of the base with the respective throws of the other crankshaft, a pair'of generally horizontal pedals extending longitudinally of the base, said pedals being respectively connected at their opposite ends to the aligned throws of the respective crankshafts to link the crankshafts for joint rotation, said pedals having reciprocating movement longitudinally of the base responsive to joint rota tion of the crankshafts, a seat section mounted upon said base above and rearwardly from the pedand adapted to support the rear portions of a paralytic, and foot rests adapted to support the feet of a paralytic, said foot rests overlying the pedals and being mounted thereon for adjustment independently of one another relative to the pedals supporting the same, to dispose the feet of a paralytic supported by said seat section in selected positions relative to the pedals.

7. A therapeutic device for paralytics comprising a base, a pair of front and a pair of rear wheels supporting said base for movement over a supporting surface, front and rear two-throw crankshafts journaled in and spaced longitudinally of said base, one of the crankshafts being fixed to one of the .pairs of wheels to rotate jointly therewith, the respective throws of one crankshaft being aligned longitudinally of the base with the respective throws of the other crankshaft, a pair of generally horizontal pedals extending longitudinally of the base, said pedals being respectively connected at their opposite ends to the aligned throws of the respective crankshafts to link the crankshafts for joint rotation, said pedals having reciprocating movement longitudinally of the base responsive to joint rotation of the orankshafts, a seat section mounted upon said base above and rearwardly from the pedals and adapted to support the rear portions of a paralytic, and foot rests adapted to support the feet of a paralytic, said foot rests overlying the pedals and being mounted thereon for independent adjustment vertically of the pedals to selected elevations and angular relationships relative to the supporting the same, to dispose the feet of a paralytic supported by said seat section in selected positions relative to the pedals and seat section.

8. A therapeutic device for paralytics comprising a base, a pair of front and a pair of rear wheels supporting said base for movement over a supporting surface, front and rear two-throw crankshafts journaled in and spaced longitudinally of said base, one of the crankshafts being fixed to one of the pairs of Wheels to rotate jointly therewith, the respective throws of one crankshaft being aligned longitudinally of the base with the respective throws of the other crankshaft, a pair of generally horizontal pedals extending longitudinally of the base, said pedals being respectively connected at their opposite ends to the aligned throws of the respective crankshafts to link the crankshaits for joint rotation, said pedals having reciprocating movement longitudinally of the base responsive to joint rotation of the crankshafts, an upstanding frame rigid with and extending upwardly from the base, a seat section mounted upon said frame above and rearwardly from the pedals and adapted to support the rear portions of a paralytic, said seat section having one edge pivotally connected to the frame for swinging movement of the seat section to selected positions inclined from the horizontal, means for holding the seat section against movement from each of said inclined positions, means for adjusting the seat section bodily toward and away from said base, and foot rests adapted to support the feet of a paralytic, said foot rests overlying the pedals and being mounted thereon for independent adjustment vertically of the pedals to selected elevations and angular relationships relative to the pedals supporting the same, to dispose the feet of a paralytic supported by said seat section in selected positions relative to the pedals and seat section.

9. A therapeutic device for paralytics comprising a base, a pair of front and a pair of rear wheels supporting said base for movement over a supporting surface, front and rear two-throw crankshafts journaled in and spaced longitudinally of said base, one of the crankshafts being fixed to one of the pairs of wheels to rotate jointly therewith, the respective throws of one crankshaft being aligned longitudinally of the base with the respective throws of the other crankshaft, a pair of generally horizontal pedals extending longitudinally of the base, said pedals being respectively connected at their opposite ends to the aligned throws Of the respective in crankshafts to link the crankshafts for joint rotation, said pedals having reciprocating movement longitudinally of the base along generally horizontal lines responsive to joint rotation of the cranlishafts, a frame rigid with and upstanding from the base, a support for the rear portions of a paralytic mounted upon the frame above and rearwardly from the pedals and including a pair of side plates connected to the frame for vertical adjustment toward and away from the base, said support further including a seat section extending between the plates and having its front edge pivotally connected to the plates for swinging adjustment of the seat section to selected positions inclined from the horizontal, said swinging adjustment of the seat section constituting means effective for selectively varying the portion of a paralytics weight carried by the pedals as compared to the portion of said weight carried by the seat section, and foot rests adapted to support the feet of the paralytic, said foot rests overlying the pedals and respectively having their front and rear ends mounted upon their associated pedals for independent adjustment vertically of the pedals to provide means for adjusting the foot rests to selected elevations and angular relationships relative to the seat section and to the pedals.

DALE K. McMENNAMY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

